Hanson’s/NYC Marathon Training: Week 12

What goes up, must come down…..

Last week was my highest mileage week to date and while week 12 was meant as a cut back week, life made it a cuuuut back week. Not by much, but I’m known for being over dramatic 😀

Marathon Goal– 3:50
Marathon Pace/Tempo Runs– 8:45
Easy Runs–9:40-10:40
Long Runs–9:30

Monday, September 19th 3.65 Easy Miles @10:02 avg. pace

This was supposed to be a five miler but a little over half way through my run, my husband texted me that he was at a burrito shop near where I was running. U-turn, run shortened.

Tuesday, September 20th–1 mile WU, 1.5milesx4 @8:35 target (w/400R), 1 mile CD

This run was a little faster than it should’ve been but I was kind of in a hurry to get this done in my 2 hour kid care time frame, lol.

  1. 8:04
  2. 8:31
  3. 8:20
  4. 8:16

Wednesday, September 21st–Rest Day, 10k Steps

I took my kids to the track again so I could get my 10k steps in. I signed up both my daughter and son to the fall season of the Healthy Kids Running Series and I told them they needed to start training.

screen-shot-2016-09-24-at-4-50-39-pm

Thursday, September 22nd–1 mile WU, 9 Tempo Miles, 1 mile CD

Holy cow, this was a hard run. I know the paces don’t show it as they’re faster than my 8:45 target but it was so ridiculously humid, I was fighting for each mile and by the time I got close to the end, I just wanted to get the whole thing over with.

At 4:15 a.m.!!!!

At 4:15 a.m.!!!!

 

screen-shot-2016-09-24-at-4-53-47-pm

Friday, September 23rd–2.32 Easy Miles

I woke up at crazy 0’clock again to meet my hill running buddies. I was on the road at 4:30 a.m. but I could barely drive. Why? I woke up with pink eye!!! I had my glasses on and between that discomfort and my sensitivity to light, it was a scary drive.

But I made it. Our group started and I lagged behind, slowed down by my 11 tempo miler the day before, lack of sleep, and motion sickness from the bouncing of my glasses. Before I knew it, I lost them!! I got to the end of the road and my group was nowhere in sight!

I ran back to my car and sent a text to our leader asking where they were. He met me back at my car and I burst into tears apologizing for inconveniencing him. I think I was just overwhelmed by….everything. I seem to reach a point each training cycle where I feel this way. It felt good to just let it all out. I was done with the run and drove back home.

Saturday, September 24th–10.5 Long Run @9:14 avg. pace

After the previous day’s fiasco run, I went to a doctor for eye meds and thankfully, I started feeling relief right away. On Saturday morning, I met up with my NYC Marathon buddies and ran a good 10 miler without my glasses on (I held them). It was a blind run, but despite not being able to see, I ran comfortably.

It was 57 degrees at the start! Brrrr!!!!

It was 57 degrees at the start! Brrrr!!!!

Sunday, September 25th–6 Easy Miles @10:32 pace

I ran with my glasses on because it was dark for the entirety of my run so it was slow and not so fun but I got it done (a lil rhyme diddy there for ya!)

******

Even though there were some undone runs in there, it was a good week at 42.5 miles . My SOS (Something of Substance) runs were on point and that is what ultimately matters so I’m happy with week 12 🙂 Next week, I’ll be running in much cooler temps while I visit my family in the midwest. For this Arizona gal, it’ll be freezing!!!

–Does the cold bother you? It bothers me! I complain about the heat but would prefer that any day, lol!

–Ever get pink eye? 😦

–How was your running week? Do you ever get emotional during a training cycle?

 

Hanson’s/NYC Marathon Training: Week 11

Week 11 brought some big milestones–my highest weekly mileage to date and I REACHED MY FUNDRAISING GOAL!!!

Yiippeeee!!

Yiippeeee!!

Two burrito sales, one raffle, and countless pleas for help (lol!), I was blown away by the generosity of my family and friends (both close to me and those I only know online). Thank you SO much to those who generously donated to this important cause ❤

Marathon Goal– 3:50
Marathon Pace/Tempo Runs– 8:45
Easy Runs–9:40-10:40
Long Runs–9:30

Monday, September 12th–5.5 Easy Miles @10:19 avg. pace

This was an easy run around my ‘hood. It was hot and humid.

Tuesday, September 13th–1 mile WU, 6 Strength Miles @8:35 pace, 1 mile CD

I was determined to get in a full warm up and cool down as I’d been slacking on ’em on my Tuesday runs. This brought the first “Strength Run” (10 seconds below race pace) of the plan and what will be every Tuesday from here on out.

14393143_10106753927646751_1846315632_o

There was supposed to be a 400 recovery between each mile and that’s where I slacked. I just did all the miles straight. Afterward, I felt fine but after talking to a buddy, we both agreed that I should keep them in the plan as that’s additional mileage I’m supposed to have and I could def use the recovery even though I may feel fine (it was also 95 degrees and humid out when I did this). I don’t want to jeopardize anything so far in.

Wednesday, September 14th– Rest Day (but, 10k steps)

No running, but I met up with my run club and walked with some friends to get my 10k steps in.

Thursday, September 15th–1 mile WU, 8 Tempo Miles @8:45, 1 mile CD

I’m always nervously excited about tempo days. I actually like them and they really help build my confidence, but at the same time, I still can’t take in that I’m going to try and do this for 26.2 miles.

14358634_10106736649362571_1829241247672052011_n

Another run with stellar splits ❤

I’ve been really lucky to have friends to run these tempo miles with me because the miles just fly by. Next week, the tempo distance goes from 8 to 9 and I’ll do 9 tempo miles for three weeks before moving on to 10. Hopefully, my friends still want to run them with me, lol!!

Friday, September 16th– 6.5 Easy Miles @10:08 pace

Easy miles around my ‘hood. It was hot.

Saturday, September 17th–16 Long Run Miles @9:23 pace

I moved my long run to Saturday because later that night I’d be going to a bachelorette party and yeah…I didn’t think I’d be awake enough Sunday morning for a long run, lol! I didn’t drink any alcohol, but I’m really not used to staying out late (I was home by 10 but that’s late for me jaja!!!).

Me and the soon-to-be Mrs. :D We were college roommates! <3

Me and the soon-to-be Mrs. 😀 We were college roommates! ❤

Anyway, my run that morning started at 4:30 a.m. and wowzers…..it was cold out!!! Yes, you read that right!!! It was 65 degrees and I was chilly at the start lol!!

We (I was running with my NYC Marathon buddies) immediately felt the difference running in colder weather. The miles were cruising by us and we were going faster than we usually do. After mile 5, every mile was below my long run pace—oops!! Luckily, everything averaged out to be pretty close to my 9:30 target pace.

Warm-up 5

“Warm-up 5” lol

14408259_10106754123085091_1157996919_o

In addition to my tempo runs, my long runs have been super confidence boosters. This was my first “Hanson’s 20” (longest run of the plan) and for it being such a high mileage week, I felt so good on this run. I have 3 more of these 16ers and I was happy to cross one off the plan 😀

Sunday, September 18th–5 Easy Miles @10:14 pace

Easy miles around my hood. These were nice and slow because I was so tired from my early morning long run and night out the day before.

************************

Highest weekly mileage ever at 51 miles !!! I never thought I’d run so much and I’m just so thankful I’m doing well and feeling good 🙂

–How was your running week?

–When is the last time you went to a bachelor/bachelorette party? (It’d been a looong time for me, lol)

–What is your highest weekly mileage?

 

Hanson’s/NYC Marathon Training: Week 10

It’s crazy that I’m in the double digits of training. Week 10 had a hiccup at the end but I made it through relatively unscathed, lol!

Marathon Goal– 3:50
Marathon Pace/Tempo Runs– 8:45
Easy Runs–9:40-10:40
Long Runs–9:30

Monday, September 5th– 5 Easy Miles, 10:13 avg. pace

Easy miles around my neighborhood. I’ve been listening to music on my easy runs and I put in one of my favorite Spanish rock bands in Pandora. It’s ended up being a great station for my easy runs because I just zone out and run an easy, relaxed pace. I don’t have to to think about it and I never even look at my watch when I run.

Tuesday, September 6th– 0.5 mile WU, 4×1200 @7:30 (w/400R), 0.5 CD

I’ve been doing my speed work in the evening which means battling the heat, but I’ve found that I’ve still been able to hit the paces so it works. The downside is that I’ve neglected my warm ups and cool downs because of the way the route is laid out. As the training plan moves on from speed to strength runs on this day, I’m going to be more strict about getting a full mile in for each even if it means having to figure out a new route.

I wore a new pair of shorts for this run and they were shorter than what I usually wear. You can see from my runner’s tan that it’s a good inch from comfort zone, LOL. Anyway, I hit all the reps except one (but was still close 🙂 )

14339361_10106724853077421_176916976_o

Wednesday, September 7th–Rest Day

It was a “rest day” but I’m in a Step into September challenge (10k steps a day) so I took the family to my group run’s track day. I had already done my speed work the day before so I just ran around after my kids.

My son ran a 4×400 little workout for his FIRST MILE EVER!!

Lil speedster <3

Lil speedster ❤

And my husband did his own speed workout (800s and 400s) using my watch (because I forgot to pack his). I kinda want to leave his stats in my profile 😀

14339837_10106724996944111_1789846719_o

Thursday, September 8th– 1 mile WU, 8 Tempo miles @8:45, 1 mile CD

This was a CLOUD 9 run. I felt good the entire way and was so happy with my splits. They were beauties.

14212130_1178169522247347_1861840455330632762_n

Friday, September 9th–5 Easy/Hill Miles, 9:44 avg. pace

It was a super early wake up for this run. I had to leave my house at 4 to get to the meet-up spot at 4:30. That meant a 3:30 alarm….oooof. The things we do for running.

When you finish a run BEFORE the sunrise...

When you finish a run BEFORE the sunrise…

Saturday, September 10th–5 Miles @11:10

Things went horrible south with this run. It was an important one as I was running/pacing my good friend Jen on her 20 miler (I was going to do 10 for my long run). But 2 miles in, I stopped abruptly and clutched my stomach. Jen immediately knew something was wrong because I never stop mid run like that.

My stomach was wreaking havoc and there was not a bathroom in sight. It was dark out (we started at 4:30 a.m.) and I thought we were about a quarter of a mile from a nearby park—but we weren’t. It was still about a mile away.

I walked. Tried to run. Walked.

I told Jen and the others (thank goodness she had others with her) to go on without me. They would run for a while and then wait for me to catch up. I felt a little better after I used the restroom but with it being mile 3 of my friend’s longest run of her training, I didn’t want to mess things up for her so I told her I was going to walk home. It was closer than walking back to my car.

So at 5 in the morning, I walked/ran home feeling sick, sad, and defeated. I wanted so badly to be there for my friend.

Sunday, September 11th–11 Long Run Miles, 9:20 avg. pace

After hydrating and getting a really good night’s sleep (finally), I woke up feeling a lot better. My husband got in his long run first and I went immediately after him.

I got in 3 miles solo as I ran to meet up with a friend, got in 6 with her, then I ran 2 miles to a nearby McDonald’s where my family was having breakfast. It was a fun, and thankfully, easy and uneventful run.

14264805_1181087058622260_2926016194488907784_n

11 for 9/11 ❤

Week 10 brought in 41 miles . I said good-bye to speed workouts and I’ll be welcoming in strength runs this week with my first one tomorrow. Strength runs according to Hanson’s are Race Pace minus 10 seconds….we’ll see how that goes 😀

–How was your running week?

–Have you gotten sick mid-run? I keep telling myself that at least it wasn’t during a race. I hope it DOESN’T happen during a race, lol!